Wire-connector.



G. s. WILLS.

WIRE CONNECTOR. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14 1912- RENEWED SEPT. Z4, 1913L 16,5 Patented Aug.11,1914.

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G. S. WILLS. WIRE CONNECTOR. IIIIIIIIIIIIII ED. SEPT.14, 1912 RENEWEDSEPT 24, 1913.

1,1 06,855,- Patented Aug. 11, 19M.

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GARLAND s. WILLS, or TWIN BUTTES, ARIZONA.

WIRE-CONNECTOR.

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To all whom it mayconcern:

Be it known that I, GARLAND WILLS, a citizen of the United Twin Buttes,

States, residing at in the county of Pima and State of Arizona, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Connectors, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being bad to theaccompanying drawings. Y This invention relatesto connectors and moreparticularly to the class of wire connectors.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a wireconnector so constructed that the terminal ends of the wires may beeffectively and readily secured within the connector against theaccidental dis-- connection of the wires with the connector.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a connector soconstructed that the wires may be repeatedly and effectively securedwithin the connector without the liability of injuring the wires.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a connector of theabove stated character embodying clampsadapted to be forced intoclamping engagement with the terminal ends of the wires arranged ,withinthe connector casing through the medium of a screw plugs threadedthrough the casing.

the provision of a connector "embodying clamps each end of the connectorcasing, the diameter of 1s inserted therein whereby the binding action'of the casing walls against the screw plug will be suflicient toproduce a locking of the connector movement.

With these and-other objects in view as will appear asthe descriptionproceeds, the

.described hereinafter and set forth with particularityin the appendedclaims. I

Referring to the drawings Figure l is a sectional elevation of myimproved wire connector; Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse. sectional view taken onthe line 3+3 ofFig, 1 Fi g. 4.- is a adapted to be forced into clamping engagement withthe wire ter-; minals through the medium of. a screw' threaded throughan opening in the split' parts against relative Specification of LettersPatent. Plqft m dl A 11,1914, Application filed September 14, 1912,Serial at. 720,393. Renewed September 24, 1913.

S erial No..791,650.

fragmentary view of a. portion of the connector casing with the screwplug removed therefrom; Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of a modifiedform of wire connector, and Fig. 6 is a top plan view thereof.

Similar characters of reference are used to denote like parts throughoutthe accompanying drawings and the annexed specification. i

Referring more particularly to the draw- 1I1gS, my lmproved wireconnector is shown to consist of a tubular casing 1, the inner walls ofwhich are depressed or bulged outwardly as shown at 2, at the oppositeends of the casing. The upperportions of the casing are provided withthreaded openings 3 in vertical alinement withthe depressed portions 2,a boss A being formed upon the casing-around each of said openings toreinforce them. The ends of the casing 1 are provided with longitudinalslots 5 which extend inwardly into communication with the threadedopenings 3. A clamping member 6 is arranged forvertical movement in eachend\of the casing. Each clamping member consists of a circular head 7provided cening stud .8; an upstanding arm 9 being formed at one side ofthe head 7 for vertical movement within the slot 5 in the end of the A-still further object of the invention is casing 1. This arm 9 is ofsubstantially rectangular cross-section so as to permit the clampmgmember to have a free vertical -movement and yet prevent of its rotationor lateral movement. The lower or active face of the clamping member 6is concaved .as shown at 10 so as to fit and overlie the, terminal endof a wire disposed within the end of the connectorcasing. Thisactiveface .of the clamping member is alsov arcuately curved longitudinally,face opposite to the upstanding arm 9 being disposed in a plane slightlybelow that of the other end. 7

Threaded into'each of the openings 3 are trally upon its upper face withan upstand the end of the active screw plugs 11 and are provided intheir .under faces with vertically extending recesses 12 adapted toreceive the studs 8 of.

the clamping members.

\ By reference to Fig. 4 it will beseen that the screw plug 11.

is tapered at its lower end for about onethird of its length so as topermit of the plug being readily inserted and screwed into the openings3 of the casing. It will also be noted that the diameter of the screwplug above this tapered end is slightly greater than that of thethreaded opening 3. Now since the ends of the casing are slottedinwardly through the threaded openings 3, it will be apparent that asthe plug 11 is screwed into the opening 3 the walls of the opening 3will be slightly expanded in receiving the screw plug. After the screwplug has been screwed down within the casing to an adjusted position itwill be obvious that the walls of the threaded openings 3 will tend tocontract and assume'their normal size or that size before the screw plugwas inserted, thus producing a binding action between the plug and thewalls of the casing which will serve as a locking means to prevent thescrew plugs from becoming loosened or disengaged from the casing. Theupper face of the screw plugs 11 are provided with grooves 12 in which asuitable instrument such as a screw driver may be inserted to screw theplugs down into the casing.

It is to be particularly noted from reference to Fig. 4 that the threadson the wall of the opening 3 extend downwardly into the body or casing 1and terminate on a line approximately coincident with the longitudinalaxis of said casing. Opposite to this opening, the wall of the body orcasing is outwardl bulged or curved as above stated so that t e plug 11when threaded downwardly through the opening 3 clamps the wire againstthis curved casing wall and bends the same. The are or curve of the wireoffers a greater contact surface with the casing wall than if the sameextended in a straight line, thus materially increasing the electricalcarrying capacity, by effecting a better contact between the wall andthe casing.

It is to be noted that in putting the invention into practical use, theclamping members 6 may be eliminated if desired, and the screw plug 11alone relied upon to hold the wire in connection with the casing. Astrong and permanent connection is made possible by the relatively largenumber of threads provided upon the wall of the opening 3. In theordinary devices of this character, only three or four threads areprovided so that the plug often works loose. By means of the presentinvention, all liability of the connector being destroyed by theformation of an are which occurs when the plug works loose, is obviated.

It will be apparent from the above construction that the screwplugs 11are freely revoluble upon the studs 8'of the clamping members wherebythe clamping members may be forced downwardly into binding or clampingengagement with the terminal ends of a wire as the screw plugs 11 arescrewed into the casing.

In Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, I have.

illustrated a slightly modified form of the invention wherein the casing1 is provided adjacent its ends with the threaded openings 13 aroundwhich are formed the bosses or flanges 14 to strengthen the walls of thecasing. Into each of these openings at one side thereof, a rectangularrecess 15 opens,

the outer end of said recess being closed. A

longitudinally extending slot or kerf 16 communicates with the cl ed endof this recess and allows of expa sion of the metallic casing. Theclamping member 17 which is of similar form to the corresponding memberused in the main embodiment of the invention, isadapted to be insertedthrough the opening 13, the verticalarm of said member fitting into therecess 15. The

screw plug18 is adapted to be threaded into.

the opening 13 and receives the stud of the clamping member aspreviously described, and by threading this member downwardly throughthe opening in the casing, the clamping member 17 is forced downwardlyinto binding engagement with the terminal of the wire. The plug 18 istapered at its lower end as in the preferred form of the invention. I 1

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the advantages of construction and the method of operationwill be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which theinvention relates, and whileI have described the principle of operationof the invention, together with the device which I now consider to bethe best embodiment thereof, I desire to 'have it understood that suchchanges may be made when desired as are within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new is:

1 A wire connector comprising a tubular casing provided wit-h a threadedopening and a longitudinal slot extending from one end of the easinginto communication with the threaded opening, a clamping member disposedwithin the casing for vertical movement and provided with an arm adaptedto seat within the said slot, and a screw plug threaded into saidopening and adapted to bear upon' the clamping member.

2. A wire connector comprising a tubular casing provided with a threadedopening and a longitudinal slotextending from one end of the easing intocommunication wit-h slightly 1 3. A wire connector comprising a tubularmounted upon said clamping member, said plug having its lower endtapered for easy insertion of the plug into the opening, the largestdiameter of said plug being greater than the normal diameter of thethreaded opening within the casing, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

i. A wire connector comprising a tubularcasing provided with a threadedopening and a longitudinal slotextending from one end of the easing intocommunication with the threaded opening, the inner Wall of said casingbeing bulged outwardly at apoint in vertical alinement with the threadedopening therein, a clamping member disposed within the casing forvertical movement and provided with an arm adapted to seat within saidslot, a screw plug threaded int-o said opening and adapted to bear uponthe clamping member, the lower face of said clamping member being curvedto conform to the curvature of the outwardly bulged portion of thecasing, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A wire connector comprising a tubular casing provided in one sidewith an opening and an outwardly projecting boss surrounding saidopening, said boss being interiorly threaded, the walls of said casingupon opposite sides of said opening being also threaded and constitutinga continuation of the threads of said boss, said latter threadsextending inwardly from the side walls of the casing to a pointapproximately coinaiding withthe longitudinal axis of said casing, and athreaded plug tapered at one end, the largest diameter of said plugbeing greater than the normal diameter of the said opening, whereby inthe insertion of the plug the casing walls are expanded and caused tobind against said plug to retain the same in position, said plug beingof appreciably less length than the length of the threaded portion ofthe casing.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

GARLAND S. WILLS. Witnesses:

GEO. J. RETNY, M. ZiNITZKY.

